Israel, Singapore artists amaze, each in his way / Spain’s writers to speak

The invitation Israeli Ambassador Yehoshua and Hana Sagi sent out for the recital of Yuval Avital at their residence described him as "an accomplished Israeli guitarist whose range of musical styles and genres includes classical repertoire and contemporary music, involving eastern and western approaches."

The description proved accurate except that more than just being "accomplished," the 28-year old Avital turned out to be a virtuoso. He himself annotated his widely-ranging program, demonstrating an admirable musical background and deep knowledge of the music he was interpreting.

As he played, he kept his eyes closed most of the time, moving his head and shoulders from side to side, as though he were in a trance.

The extended work Koyunbaba by the Italian composer Carlo Domechicom was rendered with intensity and exuberance. The piece combined eastern and western elements while showing the guitarist’s nimble and remarkably flexible fingers as he produced richly colored tonalities, including exquisitely filigree pianissimos, which characterized the rest of his performance.

A composition by D. Aguado and a series by Hector Villalobos followed. Avital described the latter as conveying simplicity and passion, pointing out further that Villalobos did not imitate other composers but established the identity of his works as strongly Brazilian: lush with color and melody, the syncopated, highly rhythmic beats creating constant movement. Avital exhibited mastery of Villalobos’ technical complexity, particularly in the challenging rhythms and dissonances.

He explained that Invocacion y Danza by J. Rodrigo, the Spanish composer, was a curious mix of the spiritual (Invocation) and the physical (Dance). The former was rather languorous; the latter, fervid and fiery.

The final pieces were Hebrew music of the synagogue, with its typically Oriental vestiges. The first, Como la Rosa evoked a rose that had been nipped in the bud before it had bloomed, much like a beautiful princess dying before her wedding. Jerusalem of Gold was dedicated to the hostess Hana Sagi who had pleaded with the guitarist for "something Israeli." Avital confessed he composed the music only ten minutes before the recital. The insistent applause brought on Tarega’s Lagrimas (Tears) a sensitive delineation of sorrow and anguish.

Throughout the program, the amazing Avital performed without a score. When I commented on this later, he told me, "If I have to play a piece with a score, that means I don’t know it well enough. So I practice and rehearse it over and over again until it becomes a part of me." When Mexican Ambassador Erendira Paz Campos congratulated him, he replied, "I noticed you were responding and listening intently. That was very important to me. There must be both performer and listener. I am nothing without a listener."

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"Heart and Soul" at the Meralco Theater featured the 13-year old Singaporean pianist Benjie Boo. Although the printed program informs us that Benjie can play Beethoven and Chopin with facility, he displayed that evening his preference for popular music, interpreting without any score Anak, New York, New York, Moon River, Autumn Leaves, I’ve Never Been to Me, Triste, Valentine, One Note Samba, Sundial Dream, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Ballade Pour Adeline.

To showcase another facet of his immense talent, he climaxed these pieces with his own Benjie Boogie Boo, a boogie woogie composition richly ornamented with chords, runs and glissandos. Fantastic! Benjie, pianist and composer, is truly a boy wonder who has been performing years back.

For the second part, Benjie rendered a series of semi-religious Tagalog songs. He also proved to be a marvelous assisting artist while accompanying a singer.

When one watches a child prodigy, one tends to look out only for the technical aspects: his dexterity, tonal clarity, rhythmic precision – all of which Benjie conveyed. But the phenomenal pianist had much more than these. He had, besides, a fine sense of style, beautiful phrasing and a sensitivity uncommon for his age.

Vocalists Jeffrey Hidalgo, Adrian Panganiban and Ding Mercado were the guest artists.

Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika ended as accompaniment to a fashion show, with Benjie on the piano assisting one of the singers, and Yamaha students and young women serving as models. The latter’s plunging necklines seemed to run counter to the religious theme of the concert which included an invocation, a medley of inspirational songs and a musical exaltation of the Lord, with a lighted silhouette of a huge crucifix as stage prop.

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The Spanish Festival concludes with a week of Spanish Literature: Traces and Journeys. This morning at ten, a panel discussion at the Instituto Cervantes will be on "Lost Traces: Philippine Literature in Spanish." I quote: "The Philippines and Spain have a common past that allows both countries to have a closer relationship. Perhaps literature is the best example of this common past because most of the classical Filipino works are in Spanish. The panel will also discuss possible strategies that will make those classical books more accessible to the contemporary reader."

Also today, at three p.m., visiting writer Menchu Gutierrez will speak on "Geography of the Mist"; Aurora Luque will speak on "Ulysses’ Suitcase: Poetry and Travel."

On Thursday at ten, the panel discussion will be on "Asia-Europa: Mutual (Mis)perceptions." I quote: "East and West have always been seen as two major groups of countries with very different lifestyles and philosophies. Thanks to the improvements in transportation and communication, people can travel from one side of the world to the other searching for something new and exciting. What perceptions do we have of what is new and unknown? Stereotypes and other cultural issues will be the central topics of the discussion."

Also on Thursday, at three p.m., visiting writers Fran Alonso and David Castillo will speak on "Galicia, the Journey Within" and "On the Road," respectively.

Tonight at eight, 20 Spanish and Filipino writers will celebrate the joy of music and poetry at Greenbelt 3 Zen Garden.